The memories of Sister Angela Mary

SISTEr Angela Mary Doyle of the Six Crosses, Kilmurry McMahon and Brisbane, has recently published her memoirs titled Mercy, Mater and Me. The book is a story of a young woman, a Sister of Mercy from Ireland, arriving in Brisbane in 1947 aboard an old troop ship, having left behind her family and friends.

Sr Angela Mary was born in Cranny. In 1947, at the age of 21, she journeyed to Australia to join the Brisbane Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy. Her early work was in teaching but within a year of arriving she had commenced nursing at the Mater Hospitals in Brisbane.
In 1966, Sr Angela Mary was appointed administrator of three Mater Public Hospitals in Brisbane, a position she held for 21 years. This period covered some of the most shaping years in the Mater’s 92-year history.
The Mater has grown from a small group of private and public hospitals to a major health care provider in Queensland. Through the years, there have been many struggles for funding, for recognition and to preserve independence and the 1960s, 70s and 80s saw many challenges and difficult times come the Mater’s way.
Sr Angela Mary was a leader for these times and helped steward the Mater hospitals to the position of strength, growth and excellence it enjoys today. Her resolute and visionary guidance helped ensure that the mission of the Sisters of Mercy in bringing healthcare to those who needed it most remained alive and healthy in Brisbane.
During the period of her administration of the Mater Hospitals, Sr Angela Mary became a recognised and highly respected public figure. This enabled her influence, and the influence of the Sisters of Mercy, to reach many sectors of the community.
Now, more than 10 years after stepping down from the role of administrator, Sr Angela Mary remains very much the visible link between the Mater and the community. Over this time she continued to be an active and integral member of the Mater community, first as senior director of Health Services (until 1993) for the Mater complex, then as executive director of the Mater Hospitals Trust (until 1997), and more recently (March 2003) as a board member of the trust.
Through her roles, Sr Angela Mary has also been active in professional, academic, government and community arenas in Queensland and nationally.
She has travelled internationally to gain and share knowledge and expertise for the benefit of the Mater and health care generally. Sr Angela Mary has also taken a leading role in championing social justice and community accord on other fronts.
These include her pioneering work in establishing support and care for people with HIV/Aids in 1987 in the face of staunch disapproval from the Government of the day; her fostering of relations with the Taiwanese community in Brisbane and in particular the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu-Chi Foundation, who have become outstanding supporters of the Mater Hospitals; and her continuing interest in and advocacy for the health and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
More information on her book can be obtained from foundation@mater.org.au